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Happy New Year

As we settle into the new year we are afforded a good opportunity to look back at the year that has passed and what has been achieved and what projects that have been completed. It is also a good opportunity to look forward to the year ahead with optimism and wonder what exciting opportunities may be around the corner. From an design perspective it is a very good time to look at what is happening in the world of interiors. Over the last couple of weeks I have been paying attention to many of the magazines and blogs which look towards the New Year and the trends they expect to be popular. Although many of these articles vary a lot there is a great deal of overlap within their content and in my opinion this overlap is indicative of what I see daily on Instagram and pinterest as I carry out research for current projects. In this post I outline some of these trends and examine the bearing they have on the world of bespoke furniture design.

Fleure side Table created by Alan Flannery Furniture Design in 2018

Design Trends in Bespoke Furniture

We are all influenced in one way or another by our environment and what we see around us and the same is true of furniture designers. When designing a piece of furniture current trends play a part in steering the direction of the concept but one has to be careful not too align with them too closely.

One of the main attractions of commissioning a piece of bespoke furniture is creating something to suit the clients specific tastes , something which differentiates itself from mass produced pieces and something which indicates the individuality of the client, their environment and their lifestyle. Another attraction of commissioning the design and manufacture of a furniture piece is the longevity of the item. This should be an item which is created with great care from high quality materials and should not only stand the test of time physically but also stylistically. These pieces are designed to last a lifetime and remain a constant in the homes of their owners as the interior design may change with passing trends.

The greatest challenge a furniture designer faces is to create an item which is timeless in this way. Something which compliments the trends of a certain time, sit well in an interior setting without leaning too closely towards it. We aim to design not just for today and the world we are in currently but also for tomorrow. With the passing of time we can look back at designs of the past and judge them on the way they age or more appropriately the way they don’t. Bearing this in mind its interesting to look at where trends are at the moment, to be aware of our surroundings but be mindful to not to get too swept away on any of the transient waves of style that will move away from relevance in the same way that they moved towards it. Bearing this in mind lets look at where trends may take us in 2019 …. from a safe distance.

Colour

Dark dusky colours have been very popular over the last couple of year’s especially dark rich greens and dark blues or navy’s. Magazine previews of 2019 trends predict that these colours will continue to be very popular. These colours used extensively in wall paint, soft furnishings, curtains and sofas are accented with bright colours such as mustard or amber or with earthy tones such as soft pinks, terracotta, sand and rust colours, tans and corals. This is verified by the Pantone revealing “living coral” tone as their colour of the year for 2019. The following image illustrates a range of colour palettes outlining popular colours over the coming year from varying online sources.

Colours of 2019? Pantone’s colour of the year included at the top left of the image

Materials and Aesthetic styles

Natural wood is a very safe material as regards trends as it seems to be omnipresent in interior fashions in one form or another at any given time. Over the last few years there appears to be a trend towards darker toned woods which are accented with brighter metal fittings and fixtures. This lends itself well to the colour schemes outlined above and to the revival of art-deco. “Luxe” seems to be a buzz-word given to a trend which uses very sumptuous and luxurious feeling materials to create colourful art-deco inspired interiors. Many of the colours and trends predicted to be popular in 2019 lend themselves very well to this style. The use of velvet continues to be very popular in sofas, cushions and soft furnishing and this is very much indicative of this trend. Metal accents are also used throughout with Brass, rose gold and bronze being used throughout. This is seen in taps, handles, hinges and light fittings. The numerous guides to interior trends in 2019 suggest a drop off in popularity in rose gold at the expense of brass. Shapes such as scallops and the inclusion of curved sofas are also common themes.

Brace coffee table created in Ash with a white tinted oil finish, a popular wood species and finish in Scandinavian/Nordic styled furniture.

Another trend which appears not to be waning in popularity is the minimalist Scandinavian/Nordic style. Simplistic elegant furniture design in light coloured wood such as Birch or Ash, this style often incorporates round sectioned components and this is a trend which can be seen in a new range of furniture called OVO designed by the architectural firm Foster and Partners for Benchmark.

Eclectic Creativity

Recently I have been quite a bit of research into the furniture market for a design project I am currently involved with and this clarified to me the trend of householders and interior designers moving away from the practice of matching their pieces of furniture within a room and instead “mixing and matching” their interior with accent pieces. This is consistent with the trend of “eclectic creativity which is cited in a “DIY week” report which looks at the most popular furniture trends both internationally and nationally. This trend sits very well with the world of bespoke furniture where a curators of interior spaces have great scope to include varying interesting pieces which shows off their own individual personality and taste. It also goes hand in hand with the opportunity to replace pieces of furniture one by one or to build your collection of bespoke pieces gradually. ·

The celebration of craftsmanship and design returns to Cheltenham again this year for its 24th instalment. This is the largest exhibition of contemporary designer maker furniture is the UK runs from the 18th to 27th August 2018 in the Thirlestaine Long gallery at Cheltenham college.

The show brings together 70 of the best designer makers of bespoke furniture in the country which is complimented by craftspeople who work in other disciplines such as ceramics, jewellery and glass.

Exhibits are carefully curated within the impressive buildings of Cheltenham college offering visitors the opportunity to view over 200 pieces from makers in the UK, Ireland and even further afield. Each year, exhibitors only present work which is new to the exhibition ensuring that the show offers a different experience each year.

The Celebration of Craftsmanship and Design also offers visitors the chance to meet and chat with the makers, to find out more about them and their practice. It also enables them to learn first hand about pieces they may be interested in purchasing or about the commissioning process

I am very happy to be exhibitions at the show again this year as I have done each year since establishing my practice. Exhibiting at the show is a yearly goal to aspire towards, enabling me to design and create three new pieces.

For me personally it is a highlight of the working year for a number of reasons. It is always very enjoyable to catch up with fellow makers and see what new creations they have been working on. It is also an excellent opportunity to chat with visitors, to discuss the work on display and to gain feedback about my own pieces.

Fleure Side Table in Oak will be on display at this years Celebration of Craftsmanship and Design

This year I will be exhibiting the following pieces:

Fleure Side Table

A single-legged side table created from European Oak. Supported by its waterfall inspired leg this piece reflects the erosive properties of flowing water and its ability to shape our landscape. (shown above)

Amplex Chair

A lounge chair created from European Oak with an ebonised finish clad with a grey leather seat and backrest. Designed with the intention of catching the users eye, inviting them to sit, relax and enjoy their surroundings.

Eala Lamp

Mid Century Modern in style, this table lamp takes its name from the Irish word for swan in reference to its avian aesthetic. It is created from European Oak with an ebonised finish adorned with a turned Oak lampshade. The lampshade is finished on its internal face with gilded copper providing a warm glowing reflection.

This weekend, one of the most important in the design calendar, sees London being taken over the London Design Festival. World renowned design shows spring up across the city showcasing work from a broad spectrum of design disciplines.

One of these shows, London Design Fair incorporating Tent London and Superbrands London takes up it usual post at the old Truman gallery on Brick Lane. I make an effort to visit this show each year to see first hand what is happening in the world of design. This year is no different in that regard and I am looking forward especially to see the Swedish design pavilion, the British craft pavilion and also the work of Shane Holland whom was an external examiner of mine while studying at the furniture college in Letterfrack.

Eporta at stand 98 London Design Fair

What is different about attending this year is that I will be lucky enough to see a piece of my own on display at the Eporta stand. Eporta is an excellent online business to business sourcing platform for trade customers. It brings together the work of over 800 (and rising) makers in one place to form a comprehensive directory of design where interior designers, architects and buyers can find any product they may need for their projects. i am not only thrilled to be a supplier to Eporta but am very honoured to have my work showcased as an example of what is available on the site. So should you find yourself anywhere nearby at the weekend do call in to what is always an inspirational show and drop by stand 98 where the prism coffee table can be viewed.